# Candy cane Jesus is the reason for the season?? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 22, 2007, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897 "2007-12-22T03:22:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/1 "2007-12-22T03:22:52Z")
The Mrs. and I were driving thru the village near our home today, and saw a fairly common sign on the front lawn of a local home: **Jesus is the reason for the season**. Well, the statement was common. The sign, however, was not. It was a 5 foot tall cross, and across the horizontal bar of the cross were nailed the rather outsized letters J, E, S, U, and S. Below it, on a single rectangular sign, nailed to the vertical bar, was the remainder of the statement. Most atypical to me was the fact that _the J in Jesus was a red and white striped inverted candy cane_. Now, as I stated, I’ve seen lots of similar signs around. But frankly, this was the first one I’d noted which really mixed the metaphors, as it were. The other signs showed Baby J in the manger, or similar motifs derived from the bible, or just delivered the written message without graphics. I found it somewhat discordant, frankly. And the candy cane somewhat at odds with the signal it was trying to send. It sort of undermined the message, in my mind. Are candy canes part of the true meaning of Christmas? So: Does this send mixed messages, or is it just me? What say you? ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/2 "2007-12-22T03:29:02Z")
I say you get your ass back there with a digital camera ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/3 "2007-12-22T03:43:00Z")
[QUOTE=Annie] I say you get your ass back there with a digital camera [/QUOTE] Called it in one! Can’t say for sure, without the picture. Suuuuure, it sounds like a horribly mixed message, and I doubt, strongly, that any photographic evidence could change that. But it might. Really. Would someone calling himself **Loki** lie to you? I mean, really. Anyone who slithers along the hull is someone to take seriously. No wimpy hammer, there… ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/4 "2007-12-22T03:45:59Z")
Well, it’s interesting, anyway. Lemme see. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and the candy cane represents the shepherd’s crook (at least according to preschool Christmas presentations), so obviously the candy cane J is supposed to remind you of that. 🙂 There, see, that wasn’t so hard. My favorite scene in our neighborhood is the house that is completely lit up with electric trains, trees, presents, lollipops, trees, everything imaginable in every square inch of yard. Directly across the street is a large manger scene in muted colors with a soft spotlight on it. I can’t decide whether the neighbors are metaphorically sticking their tongues out at each other, having a good laugh, or if it’s a complete coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/5 "2007-12-22T03:46:38Z")
The Jesus/candy cane thing is out there. I found this: **The true meaning of the Candy Cane** Look at the Candy Cane What do you see? Stripes that are red Like the blood shed for me White is for my Savior Who’s sinless and pure! “J” is for Jesus My Lord, that’s for sure! Turn it around And a staff you will see Jesus my shepherd Was born for Me! ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/6 "2007-12-22T03:46:42Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] The Mrs. and I were driving thru the village near our home today, and saw a fairly common sign on the front lawn of a local home: **Jesus is the reason for the season**. [/QUOTE] My reflexive response to hearing this phrase is the query, “For winter?” Since they “obviously” (in their minds, because no other type of “season” matters to them at that time) mean the Christmas season, I agree that it’s a mixed message. That’s also why I can’t understand why some people campaign against stores/store employees using the general “Happy Holidays” reference - why promote crass commercialization of one of the holiest of Christian holidays? ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/7 "2007-12-22T03:54:28Z")
Take a pic as directed and send it to the folks at [www.jesusoftheweek.com](http://www.jesusoftheweek.com). ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/8 "2007-12-22T04:23:52Z")
[QUOTE=freckafree] The Jesus/candy cane thing is out there. I found this: **The true meaning of the Candy Cane** Look at the Candy Cane What do you see? Stripes that are red Like the blood shed for me White is for my Savior Who’s sinless and pure! “J” is for Jesus My Lord, that’s for sure! Turn it around And a staff you will see Jesus my shepherd Was born for Me! [/QUOTE] I confess myself deeply frightened. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/9 "2007-12-22T07:24:34Z")
There’s been either internet glurge or mimeograph glurge posted to the internet for many years that claims that the candy cane was originally invented by an Indiana candy maker who wanted to remind people that Jesus was the real reason for Christmas. Different versions even go so far as to claim thaere are specific numbers of wide and narroew stripes with different symbolism. It is nonsense, of course. Aside from the problem of inventing a candy shaped like “J” that is immediately hung upside down, there is the historical problem that candy canes were known in Germany before Indiana was settled by white folks. Like the illogical claim that the _Twelve Days of Christmas_ was written for Catholic kids to keep alive the memory of something or other during English persecution, (never mind that the Christian ideas that were purportedly expressed would have been quite comfortable even among the Puritan persecutors), it is simply Christmas season silliness. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/10 "2007-12-22T07:27:34Z")
Heh. Barb Mikkelson [makes the same analogy](http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/candycane.asp) to the Twelve Days of Christmas that I drew. Wikipedia notes the German origin of the [“cane.”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_canes) ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/11 "2007-12-22T07:39:35Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] Aside from the problem of inventing a candy shaped like “J” that is immediately hung upside down… [/QUOTE] Aha! The candy cane was actually invented by _Satanists_! ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/12 "2007-12-22T07:41:55Z")
Satanist. Dentists. Something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/13 "2007-12-22T07:45:33Z")
Since the Candy Cane was inverted, doesn’t this imply the old Satan / Santa brouhaha (or is that brouhoho)? ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/14 "2007-12-22T08:27:13Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] It is nonsense, of course. Aside from the problem of inventing a candy shaped like “J” that is immediately hung upside down, . [/QUOTE] Heretic! The candy cane was divinely inspired by God. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/15 "2007-12-22T09:00:20Z")
[QUOTE=vivalostwages] Take a pic as directed and send it to the folks at [www.jesusoftheweek.com](http://www.jesusoftheweek.com). [/QUOTE] [This one makes my brain hurt.](http://www.jesusoftheweek.com/jesii/479/index.html) Really, though, IMHO, if you’re going to make a statement about Christmas [_this_ is the way you do it!](http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=28554&in_page_id=2)😃 ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/16 "2007-12-22T15:25:33Z")
Now [HERE’S](http://slumbering.lungfish.com/?p=254) the real reason for the season. And all seasons, come to think of it. (Courtesy of the [Bad Astronomy Blog](http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/)) ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/17 "2007-12-22T15:51:46Z")
There’s a street nearby that has one house that always had a large cross covered with Christmas lights. I always thought that was a wrong message because the cross symbolizes his death and sacrifice. Christmas is to celebrate his birth. So it just seemed bad to celebrate his birth by reminding of of his death. And it was even more tacky to cover it with Christmas lights. Well, that house didn’t put up their cross this year but further down that same street someone else put up an even larger one. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/18 "2007-12-22T16:07:29Z")
[QUOTE=Shoshana] I confess myself deeply frightened. [/QUOTE] I can’t read that kind of thing (the Jesus/candy cane thing, not your response!) without thinking of the [Brutal Death of Our Savior cookie recipe.](http://www.bettybowers.com/bitchframe.html) You’ll see a link to it in the left nav frame. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/19 "2007-12-22T17:02:32Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] There’s a street nearby that has one house that always had a large cross covered with Christmas lights. I always thought that was a wrong message because the cross symbolizes his death and sacrifice. Christmas is to celebrate his birth. So it just seemed bad to celebrate his birth by reminding of of his death. And it was even more tacky to cover it with Christmas lights. Well, that house didn’t put up their cross this year but further down that same street someone else put up an even larger one. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] So I assume you prefer the version of “What Child Is This?” that omits the line “Nails, spears, shall pierce Him through/ The cross be bourne for me, for you…” As I’m sure will surprise no one, I tend the other way. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897/20 "2007-12-22T17:02:47Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] There’s a street nearby that has one house that always had a large cross covered with Christmas lights. I always thought that was a wrong message because the cross symbolizes his death and sacrifice. Christmas is to celebrate his birth. So it just seemed bad to celebrate his birth by reminding of of his death. And it was even more tacky to cover it with Christmas lights. Well, that house didn’t put up their cross this year but further down that same street someone else put up an even larger one. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] So I assume you prefer the version of “What Child Is This?” that omits the line “Nails, spears, shall pierce Him through/ The cross be bourn for me, for you…” As I’m sure will surprise no one, I tend the other way. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-cane-jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season/430897.md?page=2)